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Recent surveillance data shows that sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are rising across Europe, with gonorrhea and syphilis reaching their highest recorded levels in more than a decade. Cases have increased the most among men who have sex with men, although infections are also increasing among heterosexual men and women, according to analysis from the University of Minnesota. Health officials are especially concerned about the growing number of congenital syphilis cases, which are considered preventable with screening and treatment. Experts suggest several possible reasons for the rising number of cases, including changes in sexual behavior after the COVID-19 pandemic, increased use of dating apps, lower condom use related to expanded HIV prevention strategies, and broader STI testing that identifies more asymptomatic infections.
Across the pond: For comparison, in the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) most recent data shows gonorrhea cases have declined for 3 years in a row but congenital syphilis increased for the 12th year in a row, with nearly 4,000 reported cases in 2024. Yet, despite rising syphilis case numbers and CDC guidelines, urgent care centers frequently fail to co-test for syphilis alongside other STIs, largely because itemized pricing deters self-pay patients from receiving comprehensive screening. Read more from the JUCM archive: Missed Opportunities in STI Test Bundling – Journal of Urgent Care Medicine